Finance & Capital Market

Global speakers for Riyadh fintech conference

Meftech, the longest running banking & financial technology event in Mena, has announced its line-up of industry expert speakers on fintech from across the world ahead of the upcoming conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The event takes place at the Four Seasons, Riyadh on February 24 and 25.

Industry experts confirmed to speak at Meftech 2019 include: Chris Skinner renowned independent commentator on the financial markets and fintech; Yasar Yilmaz, head of Financial Services Industry, Middle East & Africa, Turkey, Pakistan, Microsoft; Janti Abdallah, general manager, STS PayOne; Mirna Sleiman, founder & CEO Fintech Galaxy; Eleni Kitra, head of Financial Services, Facebook; and Dr Fadi Chehaye, senior technology advisor, Samba Financial Group.

Meftech will include panel discussions and keynote speeches addressing industry trends and issues around mobile payments in the region, digital transformation in banking, driving cashless payments in Saudi Arabia, impact of blockchain on payments and the future of digital currencies.

Chris Skinner, who will provide a keynote address at Meftech 2019 said: “Digital transformation continues to be a key focus within the financial industry, and we have experienced significant changes in the last five years.

“We are witnessing a more pronounced collaboration between banks and the Fintech community as they are working actively to partner and collaborate with each other to create new structures, products and services. Saudi Arabia is emerging as a leading digital banking market in Middle East and North Africa as they continue to drive new and innovative banking models to support economic growth and diversification.”

With the recent announcement by UAE Central Bank and Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) of the pilot programme, Project “Aber” the joint digital currency based on blockchain technology to facilitate cross-border payments between the two countries, Mastercard’s vice president of Blockchain Product Development & Innovation Kamran Shahin will present on “Revolutionising remittance: blockchain across border payments” that will focus on the pilot programme and share his perspectives about how banks and fintech incubators in the region can prepare for the future of remittance.  

Meftech 2019 will have a dedicated Fintech Start-Up Zone in partnership with Fintech Galaxy - a Mena-focused digital crowdsourcing platform that connects Fintech entrepreneurs to financial institutions. The Fintech Start-Up Zone provides a platform to early stage start-ups from across the MENA region to exhibit and present their ideas or products to potential investors, Government officials and industry experts.

Meftech is initiated by mada, the national payment network, and Sadad Payment. - TradeArabia News Service